Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday sent a warm message after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Melbourne, recalling their long-standing personal relationship and revealing that Modi asked him about his Indian cooking.
Morrison thanked the Indian Prime Minister for the meeting and spoke about the progress made in bilateral relations during his tenure.
“Thank you to Prime Minister @narendramodi for the invitation to meet in Melbourne today. Together we have taken the Australia-India relationship to an all-time high. I wish him all the best on his visit.”
“Yes, he asked me how far my Indian cooking was progressing,” Morrison wrote on X.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi shared a photo of his meeting with Morrison on X and highlighted their discussions on bilateral relations.
“It is always good to meet Mr. Scott Morrison, former Prime Minister of Australia. We had a great conversation on Indo-Australian friendship,” Modi wrote.
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The light-hearted remark was a reference to Morrison’s widely discussed “curry night” in April 2022, when the then Australian Prime Minister celebrated the signing of the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) by preparing Indian dishes at home.
At the time, Morrison shared photos of himself cooking on Instagram and wrote: “To celebrate our new trade deal with India, the curries I have chosen to cook for tonight’s curry night are all from my dear friend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Gujarat province, including his favourites.” Khichdi. Jane, the girls, and Mom all agree.
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Prime Minister Modi in Australia
Prime Minister Modi arrived in Australia on Wednesday on the second leg of his three-nation tour. Shortly after landing in Melbourne, he wrote on X’s website: “Landed in Melbourne, Australia. This visit will add vitality to the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Australia.”
Modi was received at the airport by senior Australian government officials, and was given a ceremonial guard of honour. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and interact with members of the Indian community.
During his visit, Prime Minister Modi will co-chair the third annual summit with Prime Minister Albanese and work with various stakeholders to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Australia across all sectors of mutual interest, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
Upon his arrival at the hotel in Melbourne, Prime Minister Modi received a warm welcome from members of the Indian community, with chants of “Modi, Modi” and “Vande Mataram.”
“The weather in Melbourne may be cold, but the warmth of the welcome from the Indian community was truly unforgettable. Their unwavering affection and bond with India continues to be a source of immense joy and pride,” he said in another X post.
(With inputs from PTI)
